Tag Archives: Chris Paul

Who are the Los Angeles Clippers all-time leaders in stats?

The current Clippers Big Three of Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan has taken over some records, but they have a long way to go. Let’s take a look at the Los Angeles Clippers all-time leaders in games, points, steals, assists, blocks, and rebounds.

After years of watching NBA games, staying up late (while being in Europe) during the playoffs to watch the greatest of the greatest fight against each other in conquest of the Larry O’Brien Trophy, the time had arrived. 7.30 p.m. Kings at Clippers. That was the game that was about to start on a fine Saturday afternoon in LA. That was about to become my first live experience in the courts of the NBA.

My friends and I arrived a little over an hour before the start of the game and I insisted in going straight into the legendary Staples Center, aiming to make the most out of my first, exciting visit and of course having the time to buy some official Clippers clothing from the team boutique.

We parked in a parking space close by the Staples Center and started walking the Staples Center. Here comes the first shock.
This building, in which some of the best players to ever pass from the NBA had played was standing in front of me. Beautiful with the nice purple colored windows and the red “Staples Center” sign above, it was becoming bigger and bigger and more marvelous as we approached.

We quickly passed the security control, grabbed a bunch of Clippers schedule mouse pad giveaways and headed straight inside the arena. The feeling was just unbelievable. Haven only seen some European basketball arenas, the difference was obviously chaotic from the first second. Some pictures and a few looks around the arena later, we headed towards the alleys, where we had hot dogs and cola (huge hot dogs, really). The Clippers boutique was right outside our gate so I stopped by to buy some Clippers T-Shirts and an amazing white Clips hat. I also grabbed a Paul Pierce jersey for my friend, who has been a fan of him all the way back from his Boston days. Prices in general were very reasonable for LA and US standards and I wouldn’t mind paying even more to get the official and amazing gear I purchased from the team boutique.
That’s because I didn’t know when and if I’d have the chance to visit the arena in the future.

We entered the arena about 30 minutes before the game and there was yet another shock. Our seats were one of the best and really comfortable by the way, a bit above court-side and slightly towards Clippers bench. It was Halloween so lots of fans were dressed up with cute costumes and the director made sure the central giant screens showed the best appearances (the team handed gifts to the top ones, too).

The two teams entered the court. And there came yet another shock. Some of the stars I’ve been watching playing the game for so many years were right in front of me, ready to start the game. DeAndre Jordan, Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, Paul Pierce and Lance Stephenson from LA, Rajon Rondo, DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay from Sacramento’s side. And of course, the man in the middle for the Clips, the maestro Doc Rivers. My eye couldn’t have missed the huge rafters on our left, which Rivers had ordered getting changed to Clippers ones (instead of the default-Lakers ones) when the Clips were playing at home.

The pre-game show is a show. An amazing one. It’s how you imagine it plus more. The atmosphere is just amazing, urging you to cheer and rejoice. And I can’t image how better it becomes during playoffs.

Tipoff time. DeAndre got the first tip and the Clippers were headed towards their first offense. It was just amazing seeing the action live, watch the moves in real-time, have the full vision of the court and feeling the reactions from the crowd (yes, not having TV-commentary helps, too). It’s just totally different when you see the live action, it’s as great as it gets !

The action in the court was really fun. Dunks (the drive of the game came from Lance Stephenson), alley-oops from DJ and Blake Griffin, some amazing shots and in-traffic shots from both sides. Gay and Rondo really got it going, from Sacramento’s side. The experience was just as perfect as I imagined it. The more you love the game, the more you understand it and what it takes for those 10 players on the court to stand where they stand, the more lurid it becomes. And for me it was. Having Steve Ballmer a few feet away from us added something extra to the entire experience, too. What more can you ask for?

Half-time arrived before I knew it and we headed out of the arena for a catch up with friends. And as you may see sometimes on TV, we, too, were late returning for the third quarter. The security guard at the gate didn’t allow us to grab our seats until a whistle, which I found very clever as the distractions for other fans get minimized that way.

During some timeouts, the amazing cheerleaders, who had previously given a fantastic show, were throwing Clippers T-Shirts and guess what, I managed to grab one after it bounced-off some other people in front of me. Had to fight for it. I was so happy! And then, in the next timeout the Clippers Gatling Gun made its appearance. Of course, instead of bullets it was firing Clips T-Shirts again. Amazing, simply amazing.

During another timeout, instead of cheerleaders some kids-dancers gave a show and I couldn’t tell if they were real pros or just little kids from school. They were so good. As mentioned above, it’s not just a game. It’s both a show, one of the best you can see and a game, the best you can see.

Come late fourth quarter, the game was very close and the Kings tried to hack-a-Jordan only to receive a T. That shifted the game and a few JJ Redick made free throws later, the Clips received a victory. Happy end for my first NBA game experience.

After the final whistle, my friends started heading towards the exit, although I didn’t want to leave the arena that quickly. I was so amazed that despite the about 15,000 fans present, there were zero queue lines, no overcrowding and it even took us a few meetings to get out of the building. As a matter of fact, one positive experience came after the other before, during and after the game.

We ended our evening with drinks and fun in a local bar in the LA Live area, just behind the Staples Center. And guess what, it was, again, stunning !

Special Thank You to all the guys at Barry’s Tickets for making my dream come true and helping me see my first Los Angeles Clippers game ever! I am looking forward to going to a Clippers December Game and will 100% get my Clippers Tickets from you guys!

Barry’s Ticket Office is located caddy-corner from the Staples Center inside the Luxe Hotel.

Don’t miss any of the action! Barry’s Tickets offers the largest physical assortment of regular season and Los Angeles Clippers Playoff tickets on the web and in person. Barrys Tickets offers seats to match all budgets including Clippers Court side Tickets, Lower Level, Premiere Level, 200 & 300 level tickets as well. Barry’s Tickets can get you into the game even if its last minute!

It’s (finally) time to give away some NBA tickets. If you’re a keen Clippers fan, or general all-round NBA enthusiast, then you’ll love this chance to show off your skills.

Everyone thinks they know – and have – what it takes to be a phenomenal NBA team General Manager. Well, now it’s your chance to prove it, once and for all! With a budget of $70 million, YOU need to come up with the best NBA team you can assemble with the money and let us know who you put in which position and a very brief explanation of why. If you come up with the goods, we’ll gladly give you the free LA Clippers tickets. You’ll also get bonus points if you share our infographic about the highest paid players in the game for 2015-16!

So, get your head in the game and give us some slam-dunkin’ team results!

During the off-season, we have the season we have heard of many rumours of trade-offs and contract negotiations of key NBA basketball players. If you missed out on this, don’t fret – check out our infographic below! There, you’ll find a great visual representation of the confirmed top 10 highest paid players and their career earnings to date. This season will be a record year for the salary cap, with the 2016-17 season looking to jump even more.

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Ranking the Top 5 NBA Point Guards

Having a top 5 point guard on your team is the equivalent to having Tom Brady as your quarterback or Corey Crawford as your goalie. The NBA point guard has become the dominating position in the NBA and had more influence on the game outcome than ever before.

The point guard of today’s NBA has to has the ability to not only steal but also has the leadership off and on the court like never before. With numerous factors including points and assists, efficiency, as well as a plus-minus rating here is our list of the Top 5 NBA Point Guards for the 2015-2016 NBA Season.

5. Kyrie Irving – Kyrie Irving is on this list because he is so skilled he’s an amazing shooters especially from 3 point. His handles are amazing and he is very athletic and can really score the basketball. In 4 years in his career his averages are 21 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 5.2 assists. He is a 3 time All Star, the 2012 rookie of the year and helped bring the Cleveland Cavaliers to the 2015 NBA Finals.

4. John Wall – The Washington Wizards John Wall is on this list because he’s a great leader, he is very athletic, he has great handles and is a great passer and defender. His career averages were 17.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 8.7 assists. In 5 seasons he is a 2 time All Star and the 2014 Slam Dunk Champion.

3. Stephen Curry – Stephen Curry is on this list because he is a pure superstar. He is the best shooter and 3 point shooter in the league, he’s a great passer and a great defender. His career averages are 20.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 6.9 assists. In 6 seasons he was the MVP this past season, he is a 2 time All-Star, he is the defending 3 point champion, and he led the Golden State Warriors to there 1st NBA Championship in 40 years.

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2. Russell Westbrook – Russell Westbrook is on this list because is like superman on the basketball court. He is super athletic, a great scorer, can cross you over, a great defender, can pop the mid range jumper all day, he is the definition of a stat sheet stuffer and a triple double machine. His career averages are 21.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 7.1 assists. In 7 seasons he is a 5 time All Star, was the All Star game MVP this past season, and he helped take the Oklahoma City Thunder to the 2012 NBA Finals.

1. Chris Paul – Chris Paul is on this list because he will always be the most fierce competitor on the court. LA Clippers Chris Paul is a great shooter, defender, and the best passer in the game and has just a clear skill set and is one of the greatest leaders in the game. His career averages are 18.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 9.9 assists. In 10 seasons he is an 8 time All-Star, the 2013 All-Star game MVP, and the 2006 rookie of the year giving Chris Paul our #1 in the ranking of the Top 5 NBA Point Guards for the 2015-2016 NBA season.

Point guard play is a fascinating part of basketball to watch. When you see a great ball handler that can take control of his team and move the ball around with precision passes it is a great joy to behold. There is nothing like a great ball mover that will thread a strong defence and go to the goal or catch one of his teammates moving to the target out of the corner of his eyes and making that precision pass the keeps all the defenders at bay. Look for some of the movers and shakers lists below from 10 to 1 to keep a lot of defenders at bay this year.

10. Rajon Rondo:
Can put up some impressive triple-doubles with an average of almost 12 ppg and almost ten apg. He will be coming off an injury year where he only played 30 games in the 2013-14 season. Look for him to overcome his major knee injury to continue to put up numbers for the Boston Celtics. The game to watch for is the Celtics vs Spurs to see Rajon and Tony Parker go at it.

9. Tony Parker:
Tony is playing himself into a lot on NBA conversations when it comes top point guards. This San Antonio guard will continue to keep up the pace in the upcoming season. Averaging almost 17 ppg, he will become one of the fan favourites during the San Antonio campaign on 2014-15. The Games to watch will be Spurs vs Trail Blazers in Dec and Jan to see how Tony Parker and Damian Lillard stack up against each other.

8. Kyle Lowry:
With an impressive 17.9 ppg average, it is probably why Kyle Lowry was re-signed by general manager Masai Ujiri and the Toronto Raptors. You can bet he will continue to put the numbers and keep the Raptors moving into the 2014-15 with a strong shot at postseason play again. Watching Lowry and Wall on the court should make the Raptors vs Wizards one of best matchups for Lowry and the boys.

7. Damian Lillard:
This Portland guard can put on quit a show with an average of over 20 ppg. He is an excellent three-point shooter. With a 40 per cent three-point shooting average Damien Lillard will continue to be worth the price of admission to see him continue to put up impressive numbers again this year. The Trail Blazers vs Warriors will be a great test pitting Lillard and Curry against each other.

6. Kyrie Irving:
Kyrie will carry an average 20.8 ppg and almost seven apps into the 2014-15 season to keep the Cavs on their feet again this year. He is one guard that defence hates to see get hot and move the ball. He will have another good year carving up the defence during the quest toward the playoffs this year. When Irving and Parker hit the court for the first time at the Quicken Center, it will be a good preview of how well the new look Cavaliers and old Spurs will be. The Cavaliers vs Spurs in the NBA Finals is a pretty good bet this 2014-15 NBA season.

5. John Wall:
John will help the Washington Wizards to make some noise in the Eastern Conference this year. This is another NBA guard that averages close to 20 ppg. With almost nine apg his teammates are very appreciative of his unselfish ball movement. Look for the Wizards to continue the great play that led them to a great playoff run in the 2013-14 year.

4. Goran Dragic:
Making the ALL-NBA Third Team last year you can bet this point guard will pick up where he left off last year. Sporting a 20.3 ppg average will help him do just that. Look for him to continue to put up the points for the Phoenix Suns. A 50 per cent shooting average from the field will help lead the Suns to a strong push in this upcoming NBA year.

3. Stephen Curry:
Stephen is not known for his defence but who is when you have an average of 24 ppg. Curry was the NBA’s seventh-leading scorer in the 2013-14 season. He attempted an average of almost eight three-pointers each game. He will put a lot of numbers again this year while he leads Golden State to another playoff year. Curry vs Westbrook will be the matchup to watch when the Warriors vs Thunder games happen as they could easily end up being an NBA playoff preview early in the season.

2. Russell Westbrook:
This Oklahoma City guard averaged 26.7 ppg during the playoffs in 2013-14. That will bring his average to almost 22 ppg during his great NBA career. If he has an injury free year, he can put up some impressive numbers. The more he plays his consistency improve in a great way. He will put up some huge numbers in the Oklahoma City run this year. Russell Westbrook and Kyrie Irving will meet on the court for the first time under the new Cav’s look the Thunder vs Cavaliers could be an early NBA Finals look.

1. Chris Paul:
Chris Paul will show you why he is in the number one spot if you will take a look at him the next time you have the opportunity to see him. Chris is one of the best floor managers in the league. He also led the league in assists and stole last season. Look for him to maintain his 19 ppg and 10.7 apg in a powerful run for the Clippers. The biggest game of the year could be the Clippers vs Cavaliers not just because of Lebron, but Chris Paul vs Kyrie Irving could end up being where the game is won for either team. Also, the Clippers vs Warriors is another big game between Chris Paul and Stephen Curry as last year the two went at it.

Derrick Rose:
What about Chicago Bulls Derrick Rose you ask? I didn’t add him to my list because he has only played a total of 10 games in the past two years. While I would add him somewhere between 2-5, his mental and physical health factors still have questions. The Oct 31 Bulls vs Cavaliers opener will be a good test to see where he is at. Rose finished the preseason this year with 57 points in 56 minutes of playing time and went 24 of 41 and also over 50% in three-pointers and finished the eight-game preseason with a team-high avg of 16.2. If he can stay healthy and get through the entire season, the Chicago Bulls have an excellent chance of winning it all.

Would love to know who your top 5 NBA Point Guards are for this upcoming season?

The Clippers seem to have all of the pieces to win it all; the best point guard in the league, an unstoppable force, and an experienced proven leader. But can Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and Doc Rivers avoid another early round exit?

Chris Paul has been the best point guard in the league for quite some time now, but his lack of playoff success has hindered his greatness. For the first portion of his career, he carried what was a mediocre team at best in the New Orleans Hornets to a final three playoff appearances. They had some pieces in Tyson Chandler and David West but were never regarded as a legit team that could win it all. Expectations changed for Chris when he was traded to the Clippers and “Lob City” was formed.

The Clippers already had a rising star in Blake Griffin and an athletic beast at center in DeAndre Jordan, along with solid role and bench players. But, when Chris Paul arrived the Clippers felt he was the missing piece needed to make a legitimate title run. “Lob City” ended up winning 40 games in a lockout-shortened season and were the five seed heading into the playoffs matched up in the first round against the Memphis Grizzlies. They struggled in 7 games against the Griz and then got ousted by the San Antonio Spurs in 4. The argument could be made that the team didn’t necessarily gel because Paul would have ideally needed a full season with the team to truly get an assessment of how good they could be.

The 2012 campaign featured the Clippers finishing the season with 56 wins and the 4 seed overall in the West. A rematch against the Memphis Grizzlies didn’t go quite as well as it did the first time around as they ended up losing to Z-Bo and Marc in 6 games. This early playoff exit eventually got head coach Vinny Del Negro fired, and the acquisition of Doc Rivers took place. Now, the best point guard in the league and one of the most exciting players in the league finally had a coach capable of leading them to the Finals. So, now the coach excuse goes out the window.

Despite the greatness that Doc Rivers brought to the table, the Clippers would surely avoid another early round exit, right? Well, they didn’t. Another tough playoff ended with a semifinal loss, this time to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Some of the issues could be attributed to the Donald Sterling saga, but when is enough, enough? The excuses for Chris Paul have to come to an end. His numbers and moxie may establish him as the greatest point guard of our time, but he will never be remembered until he gets over the playoff hump. With new ownership, will this finally be the year Chris Paul proves doubters wrong?

Every year in the NBA we get to see some players who start off the season as underrated, non – factor players and end up being significant pieces of their respective teams. The Los Angeles Clippers are hoping that Spencer Hawes will emerge as one next season. Lob City brought in the versatile 28 – year old forward to upgrade their weak backup front line. Will Hawes be the X-Factor for the Los Angeles

Clippers next season? And can he make the difference during the playoffs?

The certain fact is that Spencer Hawes is not a typical player. He made his presence felt last season both when he was playing for the Philadelphia 76ers and after he got traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Despite his 7’1” height he is a very versatile player and a great shooter. In fact, Hawes averaged 44.8 percent shooting from beyond the three-point arc after he joined the Cavs. The 2013 – 2014 season was a breakaway for him.

Now, Hawes will be assigned with the task of providing some productivity when Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan are catching a breather. And chances are he responds to the call perfectly. After all, Hawes was very productive last season, and his performance is only getting better, as he is entering his prime.

Although he has little postseason experience, the versatile forward is now mature enough, and he can be a factor for Lob City during the playoffs next season. Doc Rivers’s team is looking to seriously contend for the NBA Championship. And it will need all its weapons lined up when the time comes. Spencer Hawes may end up being the most underrated player of the team next season.

The Los Angeles Clippers were that close to making to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history last season. They were powerful; they had lots of strengths but also a few holes in their team. One of their most significant weaknesses was the lack of a quality backup big men. Glen Davis was just not at his best last season, Ryan Hollis was never reliable, and the rest of the big men couldn’t vitally help the team.

The addition of Spencer Hawes came to address that exact need. In order for Lob City to seriously contend for the Larry O’Brien trophy next season, it will need to fix all those little holes it has in its roster. Now, with Hawes on the bench, Doc Rivers will have yet another reliable option to use. Hawes is a player who can make the difference on both ends of the floor, thanks to his size and his shooting abilities. .

The Los Angeles Clippers have done a few changes in their roster up to now but the core of the team remains the same as the 2013 – 2014 campaign. The Clips will enter the upcoming season as one of the strongest favorites for the title. So, which will be the starting lineup of the team? Let’s break down.

Point Guard

CP3

There’s no question about who the starting point guard of the Clips will be. Chris Paul will be the starter and as long as he stays healthy, he will be Lob City’s facilitator. Last season we saw the Clips using Darren Collison as their starting point guard during the time CP3 was down with an injury. However, after Paul’s return, Collison was switched back to the backup role.

Shooting guard
Another position in which Doc Rivers Los Angeles Clippers Coach had to use a backup player as a starter is the shooting guard spot. Jamal Crawford took over for the Clips due to J.J. Redick’s injury. Nonetheless, Redick returned back healthy and he will be LA’s starter at the spot next season. With that said, Crawford will play the role he knows best, he will be the sixth man of the team.

Small forward
The small forward position is the least deadly in the Clippers’ starting lineup. Lob City has been trying to upgrade this spot since the free agency commenced but up to now, it has found no success. Paul Pierce was rumored to show interest in the Clippers and a few other names were thrown on the table. As it now seems, Matt Barnes will be the starting small forward for the Clippers once again. Barnes is a very effective player although he doesn’t put up huge numbers. He is also a terrific perimeter defender.

Griffin

Power forward
Paul’s fellow superstar, Blake Griffin, will of course be a starter, too. Griffin recorded a terrific season in 2013 – 2014, taking advantage of CP3’s absence. This was the season Griffin saw an increase in almost any aspect of his game. Next season, he is projected to come back even stronger, better and more ready to lead his team to the top of the NBA. The truth is that Griffin has been criticized for his explosive character and his lack of focus when the game is on the line and especially in the playoffs. Nonetheless, in Year 1 of his cooperation with Doc Rivers, Griffin saw a significant improvement in that area, too. So, next season, he is expected to be even more mature and better poised.

Chris Deandre Blake

Center
DeAndre Jordan was counted in as the third superstar of the Clips by Doc Rivers last season. And he will be LA’s starting center in 2014 – 2015. Jordan emerged as one of the top defending big men in the league last season and he also saw major improvement in many aspects of his game. Thankfully, the Clips will now have a quality big man on their bench, Spencer Hawes, who will be able to back up Jordan and Griffin, too.

Despite of all the changes and additions the Los Angeles Clippers did to start this season, they didn’t go much further than one more round in the playoffs, comparing to their 2012-2013 course. Lob City fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder after six games in the Western Semis and those championship dreams will have to wait for at least another year. But can the Clips really stay at the top next season? Will they really be championship contenders?

First and foremost, the ownership issue will have to be resolved. It might be a long and tough process for the Clipper Nation but it’s also a necessary one. Only after Donald Sterling is removed from the owner’s position can the team truly focus on its ultimate goal for the upcoming season but also for the ones to come after that.

Assuming that the league and the people taking care of the issue eventually find a solution, the Los Angeles Clippers can start building their future. And of course, you might wonder, they do have a great team even now, right? So do they really need to plan on the future or just the upcoming season?
As head coach Doc Rivers stated after the elimination in Game 6, this is not the end. This is the beginning.

Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers have one of the greatest and most powerful star cores in the NBA. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin are under contract at least for the next three seasons, J.J. Redick is in the books until the end of the 2016 – 2017 season, Jamal Crawford for one season less and DeAndre Jordan will be with the team at least for the next season. Doc Rivers was also signed in a long term contract and assuming that Donald Sterling will be removed prior to the start of the 2014 – 2015 season, he will have no reason to not use up his contract.

Of course, we might see the Clippers performing a few moves during the offseason to try and find those missing pieces, those players who can further increase their chances to seriously contend for the title next season. But the team’s core will be the same. When it comes to changes in the style of play, Chris Paul might want to eventually start utilizing and trusting Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan more. As Rivers stated through the season, Jordan has superstar potential and if the Paul manages to find a way to utilize him more, he could emerge as the third pillar in the superstar line of the Clips.

CLIPPERS

If the Los Angeles Clippers achieves what they did in Year 1 under Doc Rivers and after all they went through during the last month, it will be really interesting to see how far this team can go. The Clips improved in almost every aspect of their game this season both as a team and as individuals and they are projected to continue getting better.
The Los Angeles Clippers are here to stay.

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